Apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials, especially molasses



MA M, W55 J. J. BOON 257099437 APPARATUS FOR DESICCATING SYRUPY MATERIALS, ESPECIALLY MOLASSES Filed Aug. 14. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l F 41 D? venfar" Jaw mob; 5mm

3 Sheats-Sheet s 1955 J. J. BOON] APPARATUS FOR DESICCATING SYRUPY MATERIALS, ESPECIALLY MOLASSES Filed Aug. 14,, 1951 In ve/v far a Jacobus 500 United States Patent 0 APPARATUS FQR DESICCATIN G SYRUPY MATE- RIALS, ESPECIALLY MOLASSES Jan Jacobus Boon, Groningen, Netherlands Application August 14, 1951, Serial No. 241,810 11 Claims. (Cl. 159-11) The present invention relates to a new apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials, especially liquids which contain sugar, and more particularly molasses.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials, especially molasses, to reduce the flakes or powder. It will be clear that the production of molasses in dry form, whereby the molasses can be transported in paper bags, does not only mean an economic profit as a result of cheaper transportation costs because of the lighter weight of the material but there is also an economic profit as a result of easier shipment of the material as it is not limited to shipment in barrels or in tankers. In addition, the storage of the molasses is considerably simplified.

in the known drum type drying devices the material to be dried is usually run onto the outer surface of the casing of a single drum or of drums mounted side by side. Such known devices are used, for instance, for drying milk, soap, salt, starch, cereals and the like, but in practice they are useless for drying molasses so that this material has always been dehydrated in boilers.

Therefore another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which has been fully adapted to the many difficulties which arise in treating molasses. This material has a very high voscosity and a high percentage of sugars which are converted into caramel at a relatively low temperature and it contains mineral salts which act as catalysts when heating is continued for too long or the molasses raised to a too high temperature. it is, therefore, a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus by means of which molasses can be dried in a short time without very high temperature. This has been achieved by placing a plurality of heated drums under each other so that the drying path is considerably lengthened without the necessity of using drums of large diameter and without any loss of time occurring in a continuous process.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus for desiccating molasses means for stirring and spreading the material during treatment. The material to be dried may form a foaming layer on the surface of the heated drum, the bubbles of foam causing an undesirable insulating effect. By applying to the surface of the drum a trailing curtain, preferably consisting of trailing chains hanging over the surface of the drum, the foam bubbles may be broken up, while at the same time effecting a thorough mixing of the mass and levelling of the thickness of the layer, and promoting faster drying. The same result is aimed at by the application of several means for spreading the material in a thin sheet. Also, the fact that, according to the invention, the process of desiccating is carried out in the open air instead of in a closed casing sothat the liberated vapor can freely flow away, promotes fast drying.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for drying molasses in a fast continuous process.

same to substantially dry Zfilidfid? Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials, especially molasses, which is simple to construct and thereby cheap, easy to be operated and constructed in such manner that it occupies only a small space in the plant area where it is placed.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the preferred embodiment as described, and variations and modifications will be possible within the scope of the invention, while the apparatus according to the invention will also be applicable to the dehydration of other products.

in the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention:

Fig. 1 is an end view the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View through the apparatus taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3a is a sectional view of a detail of the apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 3b is a sectional view of another detail;

Fig. 3c is a plan view of doctor blades suitable for use in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 4a, b and c are fragmentary detail views showing modified embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a detail in a preferred embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of draining means for the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a View of a conveyor belt and associated structure used in the apparatus of the invention as seen along the line 7-7 of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of another embodiment of the invention having four rotating drums.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a frame 1, a first drum 2 and a second drum 3. Each of these drums consists of a cylindrical casing 4 5 respectively and two side-walls 6, 7 and 8, 9 respectively. Each of the drums 2, 3 is mounted on a spindle, 1t), 11 respectively and these spindles iii, 11 are supported at their ends by bearings 12, 13 and 14, 15 respectively mounted on the frame 1 in such a way that the spindles 1t), 11 extend horizontally under each other in the same vertical plane.

1 In a preferred embodiment of the invention the spindles 10, 11 are on one side guided through the bearings 12 and 14 respectively as is shown in Fig. 2. The outwardly extending ends of the spindles 16, 17 respectively may be provided with cogwheels 18, 19 respectively, which cogwheels are connected with a driving mechanism. The drums 2, 3 respectively may likewise be connected with the driving mechanism by means of driving bands 26, 21 respectively as is schematically shown in Fig. 1. In this figure there is shown a driving mechanism 22 which has been connected by a driving band 23, with a motor 24, mounted on the frame 1. It will be clear that the driving means may be arranged in any suitable way. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the drums are rotated in the same direction according to the arrows in Fig. 1.

Furthermore the spindles 10, 11 of the drums 1, 2 respectively are hollow and provided with perforations 25, 25, 25" etc. and 2s, 2s, 26" etc. respectively, for passing heating means into the drums.

Pipes for supplying the heating means may be connected with the outward extending parts of the spindles at 16, 17 respectively. In a modified embodiment of the invention the perforations 25, 25 etc. and 26, 26 etc. may function as gas burners.

of the apparatus according to The end walls 6, 7 and 8, 9 respectively of the drums may be provided with exhaust apertures 27, 2'7 etc., 28, 28' etc. as shown in Fig. 3. These exhaust apertures are placed in the vicinity of the outer cylindrical surface of the drum for causing the heating means to flow along the outer surfaces. As heating means there may be employed gases or vapors as, for instance, combustion gases or steam. Likewise the heating of the drums may be effected by the combustion of gas or liquid fuel within the drums.

When the heating of the drums is provided for by means of steam, the exhaust apertures in the side walls of the drums are preferably omitted. In this case, however, it is desirable to provide means for draining off the water of condensation.

Fig. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of such draining means. In this modified embodiment the drums have been arranged in such a way that a drain pipe extends through the hollow spindle of the drum to the bottom side of the drum for draining away the water of condensation which accumulates in the lowest part of the drum. To this end the spindle of the drum does not extend the whole length of the drum along the axis of the drum but it consists of two stumps each mounted on an end wall of the drum and outwardly extending from this wall to the bearings wherein the spindle is rotated. Referring to Fig. 6, 109 shows in part the outer cylindrical surface of one of the drums in section, Illli is the end wall or" the drum, Hi the hollow spindle stump mounted by one of its ends on the end wall. The middle part of the spindle stump is rotatably mounted at 111 in a bearing of normal construction; 111" is a cog-wheel which is connected with the rotating mechanism. The spindle stump 111 extends through. the bearing and at its outer end the hollow spindle is connected with a housing 112 by means of a conventional packing device in which 113 is the packing ring, 114 is the packing, 115 is the packing gland, and 116 and 116' are packing bolts. Opposite to the end of the spindle stump the outer wall of the housing has been perforated to permit a so-called curved condensate pipe 117 to extend through the housing and the hollow spindle into the drum; 118 is a packing device for sealing the perforation in the wall of the housing through which the curved pipe passes through the wall. The water of condensation accumulated in the drum is sucked away at the end of the condensate pipe shown at 119 and is drained away in the direction of the arrows. A pipe for supplying the steam into the drum communicates with the housing as shown at 1213.

The material to be treated is supplied onto the outer surface of the first drums through a system of supplying means comprising a supply pipe 29, a valve 30 for controlling the supply of material, which valve can be closed and opened by operating a chain 31 running over the valve-wheel 32, a plurality of distributing pipes 33, 34, 35 and a horizontally extending pipe 36 mounted on the frame 1 by means of supports 37 and 33 and provided with perforations 39, 39', 39 etc. on its lower side.

Between this horizontally extending pipe 36 and the top of the first drum 2; a trough is mounted on the frame 1 in such a way that the end walls 46, 41 of this trough extend vertically downwardly adjacent the end walls 6, 7 of the first drum, While the longitudinal side walls 42, 43 of the trough extend slopingly from the top of the frame towards the surface of the first drum, in such a way that the outer cylindrical surface 4 of the first drum forms a rotating bottom for the trough. Within the trough a slide plate 44 is mounted on the end walls 40, ill of the trough. This slide plate 44 is arranged in such a manner that its upper surface slopes downwardly from a position right under the horizontally extending supply pipe 36 towards the outer cylindrical surface of the first drum. By these means the material which is supplied through the pipe 29 and the valve 3t) is first distributed through the pipes 33, 34 and 35 so that it is spread over the whole length of the horizontal pipe 36. Next it is directed through the perforations 39, 39, etc. onto the slide plate 44 in small jets. On the slide plate 44 the material to be treated travels downward by its own gravity towards the surface of the first drum.

As a consequence of the high viscosity of molasses a blockage of some of the perforations 39, 39, etc. may occur during the treatment. In order to avoid an unequal distribution of the material in case of such a blockage during the operation of the apparatus, in a preferred em bodiment of the invention the slide plate 44 is arranged in steps as shown in Fig. 5.

in this embodiment the upper surface of the slide plate is divided into small strips extending alternately in a horizontal and in a vertical direction. As a result of its viscosity and surface tension, the material which falls upon one of the horizontal steps 45, 45', 45", etc. will first flow out in a longitudinal direction before passing downwardly along the vertical strip 46, 46, 46", etc. respectively towards the following step. Therefore the tendency of this construction is to cause a further spreading of the material.

For removing any blockage of the supplying means, especially the horizontal pipe 36 as a consequence of the viscosity of the material being handled, a steam supply pipe 47 (Fig. 1) is arranged in connection with the supplying means and discharges into the supply pipe 29 above the distributing pipes 33, 34, 35 and permits the distributing pipes 33, 34, 35 and the horizontal pipe 36 with its perforations 37, 37', etc. to be blown out by steam injection.

As the viscosity of molasses increases upon cooling, it has been found desirable to prevent the material from dripping upon the slide plate 44 when the apparatus is stopped. Therefore between the horizontal pipe 36 and the slide plate 44 a drip-pan 48 is arranged for intercepting the material which might drip through the perforations 37, 37, etc. of the horizontal pipe 36 when the apparatus is idle and the valve 30 has been closed. The drip-pan 48 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1 by means of bearings 49 in such a way that it may be rotated around the horizontal axis of the horizontal pipe 36 to a position right under the pipe 36 and out of this position towards the path of the material. The desired rotation may be effected by manipulating a handle 50 which is connected in a suitable manner with the drip-pan 48 via a lever 51, rotatably mounted on a pivot 52 supported by a pair of supports 53. Preferably the connection between the lever and the drip-pan takes the form of a slot 54 wherein a cam 55 mounted on the end Wall of the drip-pan is slidably tted.

As has already been mentioned hereinbefore the contact of the material with the heated surface of the drum will cause the forming of a foaming layer. For destroying the insulating effect of the bubbles of foam and for promoting a fast drying, the material is stirred and mixed on the surface of the first drum by means of a trailing curtain. This trailing curtain is preferably composed of a plurality of chains 56, 56', 56", etc. These chains are attached at one end to a horizontally extending rod 57, mounted on the end walls 46, 41 of the trough, while the other ends of the chains hang against the surface of the first drum.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. l a second trailing curtain 58 is arranged by being mounted on a second horizontally extending rod 59 and likewise hangs against the surface of the first drum. This second trailing curtain is mounted behind the first trailing curtain with respect to the direction of rotation of the drums.

In another modified embodiment of the invention there is provided only one trailing curtain consisting of a plurality of chains each being attached at one end to a first horizontally extending rod and at its other end to a sec ond horizontally extending rod. The purpose of this U arrangement is to hold each chain in position so that the trailing curtain continuously remains as a unit.

Such an embodiment is shown in Fig. 4e, wherein 6f designates the first horizontal rod, 61 the second horizontal rod and 62 the chains, each of said chains hanging with its middle part against the surface of the drum.

The etfect of the chains may still be considerably increased by making them hang in an inclined direction instead of in a vertical plane perpendicular to the drum spindles. This position of the chains may be obtained by keeping their lower ends displaced in an axial direc tion.

Moreover in an especially preferred embodiment of the invention one of the attaching devices may be moved to and fro in an axial direction. In this arrangement, the chains which are hanging on the surface of the drum are pulled to and fro through the material to be dried in a direction perpendicular to the direction of move ment of the material so that a still more thorough mixing and stirring of the material is effected. Such a preferred embodiment is partly shown in Fig. 4a, wherein 4-0 designates one of the end walls of the said trough, 63 a first horizontally extending rod, fixedly mounted in the end walls of the trough, 64 one of a pair of sockets, mounted in the end walls 40 and 41 respectively of the trough, and 65 a second horizontally extending rod, slidably supported by the sockets. At 66 there is indicated another socket, mounted on the frame. In this socnet a driving rod 67 is slidably supported. This driving rod is attached at its lower end to a crank 68 mounted on a spindle 69 which spindle forms part of the driving mechanism 22. The spindle may likewise be a continuation of the spindle Ill of the first drum 2. The driving rod is connected with the crank 63 by means of a crosshead 7t shown in Fig. 4b, or by any other suitable connecting means in such a way that the rotating movement of the spindle 69 is translated into an axial movement of the driving rod 67. At its upper end the driving rod is attached to a lever '71. This lever is mounted by its fulcrum 72 on the frame 1; one of the arms of the lever 7ll is connected with the driving rod 67 and the other arm of the lever 71 is attached to the outwardly extending part of the rod 65. Both connections necessarily have some play. It will be clear that by means of the lever 71 the axial movement of the driving rod 67 is translated into an axial movement of the supporting rod 65.

Behind the trailing curtains with respect to the direction of rotation of the drums there is arranged a blade for further spreading the material on the surface of the first drum. This blade '73 (Fig. 3:!) extends horizontally parallel to the axes of the drums. The blade is ad justably mounted on the longitudinal side wall 42 of the trough. A plurality of set-bolts '74 are mounted on the same side wall 42. of the trough, each of the set-bolts being connected with the blade. The edge 75 of the blade extends towards the surface of the drum and by means of the set-bolts the blade may be adjusted against the surface.

On the lower side of the first drum nearly opposite the blade there is arranged a scraper device for loosening the material from the surface of the first drum. This scraper device 76 is shown in section in Fig. 3a, and comprises a horizontally extending beam 77, a plurality of doctor blades 78 adjustably mounted in this beam, and a plurality of set-bolts 79, mounted on the horizontal beam. Each of these set bolts is connected with one of the doctor blades. The edge of each of the doctor blades extends against the surface of the first drum and each doctor blade may be adjusted towards this surface independently and separately by means of the corresponding set bolt.

Under each of the scraper blades there is arranged a funnel shaped guttering nozzle 81 mounted on the horizontal beam in a suitable manner. The function of (ill these guttering nozzles is to cause a further mixing of the material which is directed towards the surface of the second drum in small jets.

For directing the material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the second drum a slide plate 81 is provided, mounted on the frame 1 parallel to the horizontal axes of the drums right under the guttering nozzles 30 and slopingly extending towards the surface of the second drum. This slide plate has substantially the same func tion as the slide plate 44. Behind the slide plate in the direction of rotation of the second drum a horizontally extending blade 82 is mounted on the frame with its edge 83 extending against the surface of the second drum for spreading the material on the surface of the second drum in a thin sheet.

In a modified embodiment of the invention the trailing curtains for stirring and mixing the material during its treatment in order to stimulate fast drying may be applied not only to the surface of the first drum, but also to the surface of the second and further drums respectively. In this case the trailing curtains may be mounted on the frame above the drum in question. In Figure 1 there is shown a third trailing curtain 84 comprising a plurality of chains each connected at one end to a third horizontally extending bearing rod 85 mounted on the frame above the second drum, the other ends of the chains hanging against the surface of the second drum. 86 is a fourth trailing curtain comprising a plurality of chains each connected at one end to a fourth horizontally extending bearing rod 87, mounted on the frame above the second drum and beyond the third hearing rod with respect to the direction of rotation of the drums, the lower ends of the chains being attached to a fifth horizontally extending rod 88, mounted on the frame beyond the fourth bearing rod, while the middle parts of the trailing chains hang against the surface of the drums. This fourth trailing curtain may be arranged according to the modifications as described hereinoefore. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the chains may be attached in such a way that they hang in an inclined direction with respect to the vertical plane perpendicular to the axes of the drums. In a still more preferred embodiment the attaching devices to which the chains are connected are moved to and fro in a axial direction. To

- this end the fifth attaching rod 88 is advantageously connected with the driving mechanism by means of the devices shown in Fig. 4.

On the lower side of the second drum a scraper device for loosening the material from the surface of the second drum is mounted on the frame 1. This second scraper device 89 has the same construction as the scraper device mounted on the lower side of the first drum and is likewise composed of a horizontally extending beam 90, a plurality of doctor blades 91 adjustably mounted on the beam and a plurality of set bolts 92 permitting the doctor blades 91 to be adjusted separately towards the surface of the second drum each by means of the corresponding set bolt connected with the blade in question. The edges of the blades scrape against the surface of the drum and under the scraper blades a plurality of funnel shaped guttering nozzles 93 have been mounted for the purpose of further dividing and spreading the material after it has been loosened from the surface of the second drum.

The removal of the dried material after it has passed the guttering nozzles 93 is provided for by a conveyor belt 94, mounted on the frame under the guttering nozzles 93. The conveyor belt may extend parallel to the longi' tudinal axes of the drums, as shown in Fig. 1.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 7, however, the conveyor belt is mounted on the frame in such a way that it extends in a horizontal direction deviating from the longitudinal axes of the drums by about The effect of this diagonally divergent position of the conveyor belt is that the drips or flakes of the material dripping from the guttering nozzles after being 7 scraped from the surface of the lowest drum are prevented from falling on each other on the surface of the conveyor belt. Therefore, this position of the conveyor belt causes a further spreading of the material and thereby a fast cooling down is promoted.

Such a preferred position of the conveyor belt is shown in Figure 'l, which shows top view of a section through the apparatus according to the invention taken upon the line 7-i in Fig. 8. In this sectional top view 95 is the frame, 96 the lowest drum mounted on the frame and 97" the conveyor belt.

in practice after having passed the surfaces of the heated drums, the stirring and mixing devices and the scraper means, the material has been'dehydrated to such a high degree that While it cools further during transit on the conveyor belt it hardens to dry flakes which can be pulverized by means of a hammer mill, for example. in this way it is possible to obtain molasses in dry form.

it will be clear that although there has been described hereinbefore an apparatus provided with two rotating e drums it would be possible within the scope of this inven tion to carry out the dehydrating process by means of a drying device provided with more than two of these drums. Fig. 8 schematically shows a modified embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention which has been provided with four rotating drums. In Fig. 8, which is an end elevational view, 93 is the frame, @9, 1th), EM and 162 are inwardly heated drums respectively mounted on the frame in a rotatable manner under each other, 1% a material supply pipe, 194, ltlS, toe and 1tl'7 are scraper devices for loosening the material from the cylindrical surface of each of the drums, and 1&8 is a conveyor belt for removing the material after treatment.

in view of the fact that on heating the molasses to be dried its volume increases by reason of the foaming of the material, blockage may sometimes occur, especially at the blade on the surface of the second drum. To overcome the increase of the volume of the material being treated, it is preferred to cause the second drum to be rotated at a somewhat higher speed than the first drum. When more than two drums are used for the desiccating process each succeeding drum will preferably be rotated at a higher speed than the preceding drum.

The difference in speed of each of the drums may be obtained in any suitable way as by varying the sizes of the gearing means of the driving mechanism.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

l. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, at least two horizontally extending drums, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner one above the other, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, means for directing liquid material down onto the outer cylindrical surface of the uppermost of the said drums, means for loosening the said material from the cylindrical surfaces of the said drums on the lower side of each of the said drums, and means for stirring and mixing the said material after being directed upon the said surfaces of the said drums and for levelling the thickness of the layer of the said material, the said means for stirring and mixing the said material after being directed upon the said surfaces of the said drums and for levelling the thickness of the layer of the said material comprising for each of the said drums respectively a rod. mounted on the said frame above the drum concerned parallel to the axis of this drum and a plurality of chains, each of the said chains being attached by one end to the said rod and by its other end hanging against the said surface of the said drum.

2. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, least two horizontally extending drums, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner one above the other, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums. means for directing liquid material down onto the outer cylindrical surface of the uppermost of the said drums, means for loosening the said material from the cylindrical surfaces of the said drums on the lower side of each of the said drums, and means for stirring and mixing the said material after being directed upon the said surfaces of the said drums and for levelling the thickness of the layer of the said material, the said means for stirring and mixing the said material after being directed upon the said surfaces of the said drums and for levelling the thickness of the layer of the said material comprising for each of the said drums respectively a first rod, mounted on the said frame above the said drum in question and parallel to the axis of this drum, a second rod mounted on the said frame above the said drum parallel to the axis of this drum and being placed behind the said first rod with regard to the direction of rotation of the said drum, a plurality of primary chains, each of the said primary chains being attached by one end to the said first rod and hanging with its other end against the said surface of the said drum, and a plurality of secondary chains, each of the said secondary chains being attached by one end to the said second rod and hanging with its other end against the said surface of the said drum.

3. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, at least two horizontally extending drums, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner one above the other, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums, means for directing liquid material down onto the outer cylindrical surface of the uppermost of the said drums, means for loosening the said material from the cylindrical surfaces of the said drums on the lower side of each of the said drums, and means for stirring and mixing the said material after being directed upon the said surfaces of the said drums and for levelling the thickness of the layer of the said material, the said means for stirring and mixing the said material after being directed upon the said surfaces of the said drums and for levelling the thickness of the layer of the said material comprising for each of the said drums respectively a first rod, mounted on the said frame above the drum in question, parallel to the axis of this drum, :1 second rod, mounted on the said frame above the said drum parallel to the axis of this drum and placed beyond the said first rod with regard to the direction of rotation of the said drum and a plurality of chains, each of the said chains being attached by one end to the said first rod and by its other end to the said second rod, the middle part of each 3 of the said chains hanging against the said surface of the said drum and forming a trailing curtain.

4. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, at least two horizontally extending drums, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner one above the other, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums, means for directing liquid material down onto the outer cylindrical surface of the uppermost of the said drums, means for loosening the said material from the cylindrical surfaces of the said drums on the lower side of each of the said drums, and means for stirring and mixing the said material after being directed upon the said surfaces of the said drums and for levelling the thickness of the layer of the said material, comprising with respect to each of the said drums respectively a first rod, fixedly mounted on the said frame above the said drum in question, a secondary rod movably mounted on the said frame above the said drum, a plurality of chains, each of the said chains being attached by one end to the said first rod and by its other end to the said secondary rod, the middle part of each of the said chains hanging against the said surface of the said drum, and means for moving the said secondary rod to and fro in an axial direction in such a way that the middle parts of the said chains, hanging against the said surface of the 1 said drum, are moved to and fro over the said surface in a direction parallel to the axis of the said drum, the said means for moving the said secondary rods to and fro in an axial direction comprising for each of the said drums respectively a crank mounted on the outer end of one of the spindles of the said driving mechanism, a lever, movably mounted on the said frame above the said crank and attached by one of its arms to the said second rod, a socket, mounted on the said frame between the said crank and the said lever, a connecting rod slidably supported in the said socket, being connected by one end with the second arm of the said lever and being provided on its other end with a crosshead, the said crosshead being connected with the said crank for transposing the rotating movement of the said crank. into an axial movement of the said connecting rod and for causing via the said connecting rod and the said lever a horizontal axial movement of the said second rod, and thereby of the said chains.

5. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, a first horizontally extending drum, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner, a second horizontally extending drum, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner under the said first drum and parallel to the said first drum, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums, first means for directing liquid material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum, means for loosening the said material from the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum on the lower side of this drum, second means for directing the said material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said second drum after being loosened from the said first drum and means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said second drum on the lower side of the said second drum, the said second directing means comprising a slide plate mounted on the said frame under the said means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said first drum, the longitudinal sides of the said slide plate being parallel to the longitudinal axes of the said drums and downwardly inclined towards the said surface of the said second drum.

6. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials espe cially molasses, comprising a frame, a first horizontally extending drum, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner, a second horizontally extending drum mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner under the said first drum and parallel to the said first drum, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums, means for directing liquid material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum, means for loosening the said material from the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum on the lower side of this drum, means for directing the said material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said second drum, after being loosened from the said first drum and means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said second drum on the lower side of the said second drum, the said means for directing the said material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said second drum, comprising a plurality of funnel-shaped guttering nozzles, mounted on the said frame under the said means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said first drum.

7. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, a first horizontally extending drum, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner, a second horizontally extending drum, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner under the said first drum and parallel to the said first drum, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums, means for directing liquid material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum, means for loosening the said material from the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum on the lower side of this drum, means for directing the said material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said second drum after being loosened from the said first drum means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said second drum on the lower side of the said second drum, a conveyor belt mounted on the said frame under the said second drum for removing the said material after being loosened from the said surface of the said second drum and means for directing the said material onto the said conveyor belt in thin spreaded flakes after being loosened from the said surface of the said second drum the said means for directing the said material onto the said conveyor belt comprising a plurality of funnel shaped guttering nozzles mounted on the said frame under the said means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said second drum.

8. In an apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials, especially molasses, comprising a frame, a first horizontally extending drum, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner, a second horizontally extending drum,

mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner under the said first drum and parallel to the said first drum, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to fiow by convection away from said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for directing liquid material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum and a conveyor belt mounted on the said frame under the said second drum and extending parallel to the axes of the said drums for removing the said material, a combination of means for loosening the said material from the cylindrical surface of the said first drum, means for directing the said material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said second drum after being loosened from the surface of the said first drum on its lower side, means for loosening the said material from the cylindrical surface of the said second drum and means for directing the said material onto the surface of the said conveyor belt after being loosened from the surface of the said second drum, the said means for loosening the said material from the surface of the said first drum and the said means for loosening the said material from the surface of the said second drum each comprising a horizontally extending beam, mounted on the said frame parallel to the longitudinal axes of the said rums adjacent to the outer surfaces of the said drums, a plurality of doctor blades movably mounted in the said beams and extending each towards the outer surface of the adjacent drum and a plurality of set bolts, each of the said set bolts being mounted in one of the said beams and connected with one of the said doctor blades for enabling the said doctor blades to be adjusted separately and independently, the said means for directing the said material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said second drum after being loosened from the surface of the said first drum comprising a plurality of funnel shaped guttering nozzles mounted on the said frame under the said doctor blades extending towards the surface of the said first drum and a slide plate, mounted on the said frame under the said guttering nozzles, the longitudinal sides of the said slide plate being placed parallel to the longitudinal axes of the said drums and downwardly inclined towards the upper surface of the said second drum, the said means for directing the said material onto the surface of the said conveyor belt after being loosened from the surface of the said second drum comprising another set of funnel-shaped guttering nozzles, mounted on the said frame under the said doctor blades extending towards the surface of the said second drum and above the said conveyor belt.

9. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, a first horizontally extending drum, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner, a second horizontally extending drum, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner under the said first drum and parallel to the said first drum, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from. said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums, means for directing liquid material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum, means for loosening the said material from the outer cylindrical surface of the said first drum on the lower side of this drum, means for directing the said material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said second drum after being loosened from the said first drum, means for spreading the said material upon the said surface of the said second drum in a thin sheet and means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said second drum on the lower side of the said second drum, the said means for directing the said material onto the outer cylindrical surface of the said second drum comprising a slide plate, mounted on the said frame under the said means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said first drum the longitudinal sides of the said slide plate parallel to the longitudinal axes of the said drums and downwardly inclined towards the said surface of the said second drum, the said means for spreading the material on the said surface of the said second drum comprising a planishing blade mounted on the said frame parallel to the said surface of the said second drum, the edge of the said planishing blade extending against the said surface of the said second drum, and the said planishing blade being placed behind the said sliding plate with regard to the direction of rotation of the said second drum.

10. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, at least two horizontally extending drums, mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner one above the other, the surfaces of said tiu 1 o L-fil drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, a driving mechanism for rotating the said drums about their horizontal axes, means for internally heating the said drums, means for supplying liquid material, mounted on the frame above the uppermost of the said drums, a drip pan rotatably mounted on the said frame in the vicinity of the said means for supplying liquid material, a lever, movably mounted on the said frame, and a handle, connected with the said lever, the said lever being connected with the said drip pan for enabling the said drip pan to be rotated about a horizontal axis to under the said means for supplying the said material and to out of this position by the operating of the said handle.

ll. An apparatus for desiccating syrupy materials especially molasses, comprising a frame, a first horizontally extending drum mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner, a hollow horizontal spindle for the said first drum, a second horizontally extending drum mounted on the said frame in a rotary manner under the said first drum, the surfaces of said drums being spaced apart and said frame defining an open housing whereby said rolls communicate freely with the surrounding atmosphere and the vapor released from said materials is free to flow by convection away from said frame, a hollow horizontal spindle for the said second drum, mounted on the said frame under and parallel to the spindle for the said first drum in the same vertical plane, supply pipes for supplying heating means into the said hollow spindles, each of the said drums comprising a cylindrical outer surface and two side-walls each provided with exhaust apertures placed in the vicinity of the said cylindrical surface, the said hollow spindles for each of the said drums being provided with perforations for passing the said heating means into the said drums, a driving mechanism for rotating each of the said drums about the said spindles, a trough being mounted on the said frame above the said first drum and comprising two vertical side walls perpendio ular to the longitudinal axes of the said drums and two longitudinal side-walls parallel to the longitudinal axes of the said drums, the said longitudinal side walls of the said trough extending from the upper side of the said frame downwardly to the said surface of the said first drum, the said cylindrical surface of the said first drum forming a rotating bottom to the said trough, means for directing liquid material onto the said surface of the said first drum comprising a supply pipe, two distributing pipes, a valve for passing and interrupting the supply of material mounted between the said supply pipe and the said distributing pipes and connected with each of the said pipes, horizontally extending pipe connected with the said distributing pipes and mounted on the said frame above the said trough and being provided with perforations for passing the said material in thin squirts, a steam supply pipe connected with the said supply Pipe for enabling the said distributing pipes and the said perforated horizontal pipe to be blown through by steam injection, and a slide plate mounted in the said trough under the said perforated horizontal. pipe with its longitudinal sides parallel to the longitudinal axes of the said drums, the upper surface of the said slide plate downwardly inclined towards the upper side of the said cylindrical surface of the said first drum for enabling the said material to travel by its own gravity towards the said surface of the said first drum and for causing the said material to be spread upon the said surface in a thin sheet, a drip pan rotatably mounted on the said frame above the said trough, in the vicinity of the said horizontally extending perforated pipe, a lever movably mounted on the said frame, a handle connected with one arm of the said lever, the said lever being connected by its other arm with thesaid drip pan for enabling the said drip pan to be rotated to under the said horizontal pipe and to out of this position by the Operation of the said handle, means for stirring and mixing the said material upon the said surface of the said first drum comprising a first horizontally extending rod mounted on the vertical end walls of the said trough, a plurality of chains each being connected by one end with the said first rod and hanging with its other end against the said surface of the said first drum, a second horizontally extending rod, mounted on the said end walls of the side trough behind the said first rod with regard to the direction of rotation of the said first drum, a plurality of chains each being connected by one end with the said second rod and hanging with its other end against the said surface of the said first drum, a planishing blade for the further spreading of the said material after being stirred by means of the said chains, adjustably mounted on the side wall of the said trough beyond the said chains with regard to the direction of rotation of the said first drum and extending towards the said surface of the said first drum, a plurality of set bolts mounted on the said side wall of the said trough and connected with the said planishing 'lade for enabling this planishing blade to be adjusted against the said surface of the first drum, means for loosening the said material from the said cylindrical surface of the said first drum comprising a horizontally ex tending beam mounted on the said frame parallel to the longitudinal axes of the said drums, a plurality of scraper blades adjustably mounted in the said beam and a plurality of set bolts, each of the said set bolts being mounted on the said beam and connected with one of the said scraper blades for enabling the said scraper blades to be adjusted towards the said surface of the said first drum, means for directing the said material onto the said cylindrical surface of the said second drum after being loosened from the surface of the said first drum by means of the said scraper blades, the said means for directing the said material onto the said surface of the said second drum comprising a plurality of funnel-shaped guttering nozzles mounted on the said beam under the said scraper blades, and a slide plate, mounted on the said frame under the said guttering nozzles with its longitudinal sides parallel to the longitudinal axes of the said drums and downwardly inclined towards the said surface of the said second drum, a planishing blade for spreading the said material on the said surface of the said second drum 14 mounted on the said frame parallel to the axis of the said second drum, the edge of the said planishing blade extending against the said surface of the second drum, means for loosening the said material from the said surface of the said second drum, comprising a second horizon'tally extending beam, mounted on the said frame parallel to the axis of the said second drum, adjacent to the lower side of the said surface, a plurality of scraper blades, adjustably mounted on the said second beam and extending towards the said surface, a plurality of set bolts mounted on the said second beam, each of the said set bolts being connected with one of the said scraper blades for enabling the said scraper blades to be adjusted against the said surface, a plurality of funnel shaped guttcring nozzles mounted on the said second beam under the said scraper blades, and a conveyor belt, mounted on the said frame under the said second drum for removing the said material after being loosened from the surface of the said second drum, the said conveyor belt being placed under the said guttering nozzles mounted on the said second beam and extending parallel to the axes of the said drums.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 525,758 Craney Sept. 11, 1894 642,620 Mather Feb. 6, 1900 1,012,578 Andrews Dec. 26, 1911 1,318,464 Schweizer Oct. 14, 1919 1,420,644 Mabee Jan. 27, 1922 1,633,689 Thal June 28, 1927 1,727,843 Tilley Sept. 10, 1929 1,882,405 Burris Oct. 11, 1932 2,143,019 Lavett Jan. 10, 1939 2,143,256 Andrews Jan. 10, 1939 2,144,911 Cohn Jan. 24, 1939 2,188,907 Lavett Feb. 6, 1940 2,305,733 Quick et al. Dec. 22, 1942 2,392,382 Harcourt et al. Jan. 8, 1946 2,581,081 De Vout Jan. 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 431,697 Germany Oct. 24, 1924 438,251 Germany Dec. 11, 1926 369,359 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1932 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR DESICCATING SYRUPY MATERIALS ESPECIALLY MOLASSES. COMPRISING A FRAME, AT LEAST TWO HORI ZONTALLY EXTENDING DRUMNS, MOUNTED ON THE SAID FRAME IN A ROTARY MANNER ONE ABOVE THE OTHER, A DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ROTATING THE SAID DRUMS ABOUT THEIR HORIZONTAL AXES, MEANS FOR INTERNALLY HEATING THE SAID DRUMS, THE SURFACES OF SAID DRUMNS BEING SPACED APART AND SAID FRAME DEFINING AN OPEN HOUSING WHEREBY SAID ROLLS COMMUNICATE FREELY WITH THE SURROUNDING ATMOSPHERE AND THE VAPOR RELEASED FROM SAID MATERIALS IS FREE TO FLOW BY CONVECTION AWAY FROM SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR DIRECTING LIQUID MATERIAL DOWN ONTO THE OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF THE UPPERMOST OF THE SAID DRUMS, MEANS FOR LOOSENING THE SAID MATERIAL DROM THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACES OF THE SAID DRUMS ON THE LOWER SIDE OF EACH OF THE SAID DRUMS, AND MEANS FOR STIRRING AND MIXING THE SAID MATERIAL AFTER BEING DIRECTED UPON THE SAID SURFACES OF THE SAID DRUMS AND FOR LEVELLING THE THICKNESS OF THE LAYER OF THE SAID MATERIAL, THE SAID MEANS FOR STIRRING AND MIXING THE SAID MATERIAL AFTER BEING DIRECTED UPON THE SAID SURFACES OF THE SAID DRUMS AND FOR LEVELLING THE THICKNESS OF THE LAYER OF THE SAID MATERIAL COMPRISING FOR EACH OF THE SAID DRUMS RESPECTIVELY A ROD, MOUNTED ON THE SAID FRAME ABOVE THE DRUM CONCERNED PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THIS DRUM AND A PLURALITY OF CHAINS, EACH OF THE SAID CHAINS BEING ATTACHED BY ONE END TO THE ROD AND BY ITS OTHER END HANGING AGAINST THE SAID SURFACE OF THE SAID DRUM. 